The “Third hands” arrived fresh off the “Quittin Time†auction block just in time to be put to use on a tricky Victorian gingerbread install. Said project was a spindly oak valance installed over a whirlpool tub, even with two people it would have been difficult to hold everything in place, check for fit, line it up and screw in place. The following array of photos shows the tool with a few site-improvised blocks, doing what it does best without so much as a whimper or complaint. The units work so well I can see a boatload of uses for them especially for the work alone tradesman. If you don’t have some of these gems get a pair, you will not regret it.
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I just bought three for a job installing 1x4 oak as a crown on really crooked ceilings. I could force the crown up and scribe by myself. I also made blocks similar to yours and screwed through the 3rd hand into the blocks so I didn't need a 4th hand.
I think we made a good investment.
Smile. It could be worse. You could be me working for you.
I just ordered a set ,my mom sends me a gift certificate to Duluth every year for my birthday or Christmas . I got them to help hold things in the trailer shelf and use on jobsite.
What new uses have you found for them and post pics please?
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
Had to put up a temp beam across a porch solo to remove the columns. Used the 3rd hand to hold up the beam while I tacked it off. Gotta admit, when they say 70# max, they aren't kidding; mine was bowed like a banana. Sorry, no photo, other than my mental snapshot.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Dust containment.
Holding up a fluorescent fixture for mounting.
Clamping (or buy the bracket) a pls2 laser to it.
Leveling a soffit.
Holding up and fine tuning upper cabinets for mounting.
Assist in drywall to ceiling.
Spreaders for gluing panels to walls.
You can find some examples here:
http://quittintime.infopop.cc/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=tools
Need a fourth hand to take the pictures.
While you're at it, check out the Little Hand.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
really handy when you've broken your collar bone!!!
propping up top plates before nailing off
as someone said to stop dust
propping up drywall
i've got 10 of them now!!!
Propping up gutters at the correct slope prior to fastening them off.
Makes a great horizontal pole to hang stuff from in my truck bed (it's enclosed).
Also check out the Jacks by Fast Cap. They can lift cabinets for shimming when you're solo, and they double as (mediocre) clamps.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Holding up cabinets
Dust control
Containing junk in the back of my truck
Holding up crown
Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
You`re not the first to mention "hanging cabinets".....do they come in various lengths? The one I`ve got (54" minimum?) is too long to use on standard cabinets....I`ve only been able to use it for the few that install over the stove or fridge.
I`ve seen the little ones...they need to be mounted though, no?
I`ve been somewhat dissapointed with mine.....don`t seem to find enough uses for it. Though if I kept it in my truck, its possible it might come in handy unexpectedly.J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
J, your third hand might have a mark on the pole where you can cut it down so you can get under that upper set at 54. The little hands were reviewed here ( http://quittintime.infopop.cc/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=tools&Number=8241&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1 if you're interested.)Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
"You`re not the first to mention "hanging cabinets".....do they come in various lengths?"
Jay,
I've hung more than enough cabinets by myself. A pair of sawhorses with some plywood, and a ridged (wood) box over that worked well to hold them up in place.
Jon
I've done the same thing with sawhorses and so forth, but the advantage offered by the 3rd Hands is adjustability. If you need to tweek a box up an eigth, you can easily do so.
Yes, you can buy shorter ones. But if you hang the uppers first, you don't need the shorties.
AndyArguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.